Stephen Mcgrath

Friday

Stephen Mcgrath

Romanians are paying the price for the EU’s impotence

From our UK edition

Romania’s democracy is looking increasingly fragile. Last week, tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets of Bucharest to vent their anger at the Social Democrat (PSD)-led government. The protest was organised and attended by many from Romania’s large diaspora; thousands are estimated to have returned for the demonstration. The response from police was furious: water cannon, teargas and truncheons were used indiscriminately. Journalists and unfortunate tourists were caught up in the melee. This was the show of force that many feared would come, following 18-months of mass protests against a government many believe is moving in a sinister direction. Romania, it seems, is Europe’s new illiberal state.

Thursday

Stephen Mcgrath

Don’t waste your money on Mayweather-McGregor

From our UK edition

This weekend boxing will be the centre of attention as Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather steps into the ring for the 50th time to take on debutant pro-boxer and UFC fighter Conor McGregor. It is a bizarre match-up that has been made purely with dollar signs in mind – millions of them. Much of that money will be made in these final days before the two men step into the ring in Las Vegas. The TV companies will do a roaring trade as people rush to book the fight on pay-per-view and bookies will hardly be able to keep the smiles from their faces as the cash rolls in for McGregor, from those who either have blind faith in their Irish hero, are attracted by the big odds or have fallen for the ludicrous hype and believe he stands a chance.

Friday

Stephen Mcgrath

Why professional boxers shouldn’t be allowed into the Olympic ring

From our UK edition

Boxing is under scrutiny again and rightfully so. The sport's dangers have been highlighted recently after pro boxer Nick Blackwell suffered a bleed on his skull during a British title fight against Chris Eubank Jr. After the fight, Blackwell collapsed in the ring and was induced into a coma which lasted for almost a week. Even long-time sports fan and writer Simon Barnes is beginning to find the sport hard to stomach. So it is quite infuriating to sit back and watch the International Boxing Association (AIBA) lobby for the sport's top professional athletes to be allowed to square-off with amateurs at the Olympic Games — possibly as early as Rio this summer. They hope it will add more glitz and glamour to Olympic boxing.

Tuesday

Stephen Mcgrath

Never mind the Tyson Fury uproar. Boxing brings huge benefits to communities

From our UK edition

Just as one Muslim doesn’t represent Islam, Tyson Fury doesn’t represent boxing. But that hasn’t stopped liberal commentators and the morally-outraged Twitterati, who have used the BBC Sports Personality furore to attack the sport. Julie Bindel (who claims boxing is ‘not a sport but a sadistic spectacle performed by men’) wrote in the Guardian: ‘If your job is to knock somebody unconscious, it’s unlikely that they have been raised to think that solving an argument with their fists is wrong. The ethos behind this can also breed dangerous attitudes towards women.’ Does this mean a tennis player will try to solve an argument with a racket? Or a golfer with a club?